Resilient bumper stop for separator screens



Sheets-Sheet l L. JOHNSON Zmvcntor Clttomegs RESILIENT BUMPER STOP FORSEPARATOR SCREENS Feb. 2, 1954 i Filed. March 7, 1951 Feb. 2, 1954JOHNSQN 2,667,971

RESILIENT BUMPER STOP FOR SEPARATOR SCREENS Filed MarGh 7, 1951 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Z v .a9 J

nventor Patented Feb. 2, 1954 RESILIENT BUMPER STOP FOR SEPARATORSCREENS Leonard Johnson, Minneapolis, Minn., assigner to Hart-CarterCompany, Minneapolis, Minn.,

a corporation of Delaware Application March 7, 1951, Serial No. 214,243

2 Claims. (Cl. 209-320) My invention relates to grain separatorconstruction and more specifically to improvements in grain separatorsutilizing sieves or screens which slope downwardly in the direction offlow and which are caused to oscillate rapidly to enhance the separatingof the grains fed through the machine.

More particularly, my invention relates to separators having slopingscreens, as above indicated, which partake of oscillatory movementstransversely of the direction of flow, and has for its primary objectthe provision of novel means to prevent grain from iiowing excessivelytoward one side or the vother of said transversely oscillating screens.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a novel bumper orimpact head which is adapted to be mounted in the path of oscillatorytravel of one of said screens and engaged thereby when the screen movesto one of its limits of oscillatory movement, the impact between saidscreen and said head causing said screen to be jarred or jolted.

Still another object of my invention is the provision of means whereby asingle bumper or impact head of the above type may be caused to impart ajarring action to a plurality of oscillating screens.

Another object of my invention is the provision of novel means formounting a bumper or impact head of the above type and of means foradjusting the position of said impact head whereby the impacttherebetween and the oscillatory screen associated therewith may bevaried.

Still another object of my invention is the provision of a bumper orimpact head and mounting therefor which is simple and inexpensive toproduce, which is highly eiiicient in operation, and which is rugged inconstruction and durable in use.

The above and other highly important objects and advantages of myinvention will become apparent from the following detailedspecification, appended claims, and attached drawings.

Referring to the drawings which illustrate the invention, and in whichlike characters indicate like parts throughout the several views:

Fig. l is a view in perspective of a grain separater incorporating myinvention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken substantially on theline 2 2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary View in rear elevation on substantially the samescale as Fig. 2, some parts being broken away and some parts being shownin section; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view partly in plan and partly in section takensubstantially on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

The separating machine illustrated is of the type generally known as adockage tester and is adapted for testing samples of grain taken from aload to be tested. The machine includes a frame structure whichcomprises a base member 2 supported by legs or feet at the cornersthereof, a pair of laterally spaced side frame elements 4 and 5, and aconnecting top member 5. A plurality of grain separating elements invertically spaced relationship includes a primary separating device 1, asecondary separator sieve or screen 8, and a pair ci cooperatingtransversely oscillating separator screens 9 and l0. The separatingdevice 7 and the screens 340, inclusive, in themselves do not constitutethe invention, and being conventional in nature, it is not thoughtnecessary to describe the same in detail. Hence, for the sake ofbrevity, it is thought that the above description will be suiiicient.

Grain to be tested is fed into the conventional receiving hopper I I ofthe machine and is carried over the several separating devices throughthe machine. The grain which goes through the several separating devicesis transferred from an upper separator to one therebelow, and that whichis carried to the delivery end of each separating device is dischargedinto a cooperating one of several receiving trays or pans i2, thesmallest grains, namely those passing through the separator screen orsieve l0, being deposited in a receiver or tray i3 which rests upon thebase 2. It will be noted, by reference to Fig. ,1, that the severalscreens, particularly the transversely oscillating screens 9 and ic,slope downwardly in the direction of flow, the separating device 'l andthe screen 8 being agitated by conventional means, not shown, to causethe grain to move thereover.

Means for mounting the screens 9 and l@ between the frame elements i and5 comprises a plurality of lever-acting arms Ill which at theirintermediate portions are mounted fast on rock shafts l5 that arejournalled in bearing brackets I6 which in turn are secured to the sidewall elements and 5 by nut-equipped screws or the like il'. The upperends of the lever-acting arms lli are pivotally secured to mountingflanges i8 welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the frame is oi thescreen ii, as indicated at Z. The lower ends of the crank-acting armsIii have pivotal connections 2l with mounting brackets or the like 22secured fast to the frame 23 of the lower separator screen Ill.

I provide mechanism for imparting oscillatory a motor, not shown, by themeans of suitableAk power transmission mechanismsuehas a-drive belt orbelts, not shown. An eccentric 26"i`s. rigidly secured to the oppositeend of the drive shaft 24 and drives a pitinan arm; Z1? whichvl at'.

its free end is pivotally secured2 to-theouter end` of a crank arm 28which extends inwardly through a slot 29 in the sidefframe-member5 andterminates in an enlarged head 39 which is rigidly secured to theadjacent rock shaft I by means of a set screw or the like 3l. Withparticular:reerencesto Figs', 2 and 3; it will Ibe seen that rotation ofthe drive shaft 24' will impart: oscillatory-'movements to the crank arm28 a `vertical plane and: consequent oscillatory movementsofgthescreen-mounting ar-msl ifi in 'directions transversely of themachine and of 'the direction. off cw of the'v material over saidscreens Sand l0: f

If, for'any reason, the screens 91 and I9. are not in a. levelcondition; transversely of the-machine; grain Vmoving; thereon willVtend t0 gravitategftoward'the; low side or sides thereof oftenVresulting poor separation. To.`- correct any such. conditiom, If.provide ar bumper' or impact .head 32 preferalclyr made from rubber orother -re'silientr material and' securedV to-'theA freeend of mounting;means. such as a leaff spring 3,3,- by VVmeans: ofP a screworfthe-lilreV 34; At its` other end;- the leat 'spring 33 isf bolted orotherwise rigidly secured.,r tofan inturned flange 35'integrally;I'formedwith-r the.r side frame element` 5. The impact head 32 lies inthe path of travel ci a; side portionfof; theirame- 1.3 and` is adaptedtobe. impingedf thereagainst uponfoscillatory fmovement of the'Vvscreen- 9A in the direction. Voi

the impact head 32.- I-'hefimpactof the; frame 9- against-thefhead-SZcausesV the grainfon the screen-.9 tube jar-red in the-directionof the.side trame-element 5 so,that, theside of thescreen 9y adjacent the.-side frame.A member.- 4` is lower than the opposite sideVA thereof, thegrain will tend tox move. away-from the low side toward the longitudinalcenter"cf. the screen. Means formes/mathe impactfhead-- 32 with respect,to

thelimit of transverse oscillatory movement of the-screen` 9. toA normalpositionsY onVv either side 0f or atvthe said limit of movement,comprises an adjustment, means rin. the nature of. athumb screw- 36.rprojecting through-a. suitableaperture inthe intermediate: portion ofithev leaf. Spring 33 and having thereon a-fheadV in thenaturey of anacorn nut-or the like 31whichengages the inner `surface of the sideframey member 5.

An.. adjustment. nut.. 38. and, a,.locknut. 39V areY screwthreaded onthethumbscrew 3.6,.oniopposite sides of` theleaf spring` 33,. By unscrewingoneof the .nuts.38. or. 39. away from the. leaf spring 3.3,and

tightening.. up off the.V other of, the saidY nuts. 38 `or 39. against.-the lea, springl 33, the operator is able. to adjust. the,normallposition of the. im-

,.pact head 32. to, a. relatively line degree` The .resilient; nature orthe leaf' spring 3.3 andY that of the impact. head 32;,whil'e havingvresistance sulil'cient tocausev the grain to be appreciably jostled inthe screens 9' andi I9 towardV the centers.thereof, the spring 33issulliciently'resilienty `to permit fullv oscillatory movement` of`Asaid screens 9 and I0 without damaging the mechanism for imparting saidoscillations. The rigidity of the connecting arms I4 causes the impactbetween the screen 9 and the impact head 32 to be transferred to thescreen l0 so that material which may have: drifted toi one side of thescreen IU- will be'jostledtoward the longitudinal center thereof.

' It should be understood that the impact head 32. and the.resilientmounting therefor may with equal facility be mounted on theopposite side frame element 4 in the event that the screens 91 andi,|105 slopelaterally in the opposite direction. It should` alsov bejappreciated that bumpers or impact headsl mayl be installed on oppositeside frame elementsr so that lateral slope in either direction could bequickly'and easily corrected. lit-is possible to manipulate the screws38 and 39 in a manner to cause the impact head 32 to be; moved4 to.- a,-normal position` laterally-outwardly:V of the-limit.-y of: oscillatory'travel-ot the screen 9.- in the eventA that.Y the grain). has notendencyto: glavitate toward one sideor.Y the other of the. screened orL9. Obviously, adjustment. of the: head 32; toward theopposite sideframe element A4 will increase the impactA` with which the screen. 9strikes the head. 32, whereas adjustment of the-head 32 in the-oppositedirection will; decrease saidV impact. Y

Myv invention" has been. tested on. a commercial basisr and, found.l to.be completely satisfactory for the accomplishment ofV the-objectivesTset forth; and,,.while Lhave. shown. a commercial embodiment of myimproved device, it will be understood that` tha same is capable of:modification Without.- departure.- fromA the spiritr and scope: ot. theinvention-as. defined in the` claims.

What I. claim is; Y

1. In a deviceof the class described,4 a sup.- portingframe structureincluding a. pair of laterally spaced. side-frame` elements,a-relatively flat separator screen disposed betweerr said frameelements, said. screen sloping downwardly.k inV the direction:Y of:iiowf` of` material carried' thereby, means mountinggsaidf screen foroscillatory movements transverselvv of; the. direction ofnew, powerdriven mechanism for imparting said oscillatory movements to the screema` rubber-likev impact headresilieniz meansgmountingsaid: impact;V headinthe patlr ot'oscillatory movement of the screen fprmovements: into andout of one;l of. the limits of oscillatory travel: thereof,` saidrresilient' means comprising a. leaf spring anchored at. oneV end to oneof. said side-frame elementsfsaid impact hea'dbeing 'securedto'thefree'end of said spring,

and adjustment' screw meansAl intermediate the ends of said spring and.engageable withl thev adjacentside frame element for'varying the normalposition of the impact head with respeetrtov said limitof:r oscillatory'movement of the screen, whereby theimpact between saidscreen and saidheadduring oscillatory movement ofthescreen may be increasedY ordecreased.

2a Iny a device of the classf described, a supporting framestructurelincluding a pair of laterally spaced side frame: elements, apair, of relatively'flateseparator screensdisposed between said frameelements, said screensd sloping downwardly in the direction of flow ofmaterial carried thereby, means' mounting said'screens in verticallyspaced parallel relationship for simultaneous oscillatory movementsVtransverselyv oi-` the direction of ilow-y and inoppositedirections,said" lastconnecting sa-idlscreens,l power' driven Imechanism 5 forimparting said oscillatory movements to the screens, a rubber-likeimpact head, resilient means mounting said impact head in the path ofoscillatory movement o one of the screens for movements into and out ofone of the limits of oscillatory travel thereof, said resilient meanscomprising a leaf spring anchored at one end to one of said side frameelements, said impact head being secured to the free end of said springand engageable with the adjacent side of said one of the screens, andadjustment screw means intermediate the ends of said spring and engagenable with the adjacent side frame element for varying the normalposition of the impact head with respect to said limit of oscillatorymovement of said one of the screens, whereby the impact between saidscreen and said head during oscillatory movement of the screen may beincreased 6 or decreased, said impact being transferred to the other ofsaid screens through the lever-acting arms and causing material on saidscreens to be jarred in directions transversely thereof.

LEONARD JOHNSON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 423,373 Clark Mar. 11, 1890 458,246 Westereld Aug. 25, 1891530,546 Miller Dec. 11, 1894 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 564,413Germany Nov. 13, 1932

